PRIMA Call: Thematic Area 1-Water Management in the Nexus

Water scarcity is a growing challenge in the Mediterranean, where agriculture accounts for 64–79% of freshwater withdrawals, particularly in southern and eastern regions (FAO 2016; Malek & Verburg 2018). Brackish water desalination offers a promising alternative to sustain agricultural production, especially for high-value crops and smallholder systems. However, costs, energy intensity, brine disposal, and limited integration with renewable energy and digital optimisation tools hinder adoption (Jones et al., 2019; IRENA, 2022).This topic aims to improve the cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability [...]